In the Nursery with Brittany Greene Design

Brittany Greene is an interior designer (at Brittany Greene Design, of course!), so if you wonder if the old adage the shoemaker’s children have no shoes applies, you’d be wrong! Brittany pulled out all the stops to design little Lola’s pink and green nursery, mixing elements new and old for a truly unique space. Keep your eyes open for the vintage dresser made new with a shiny coat of paint. Thank you for inviting us into your space today, Brittany!

Design inspiration can come from anywhere—what inspired your nursery design?I was first inspired by the tropical banana leaf wallpaper and its tranquility for my sleeping babe. The colors—white, pale aqua, and green with blush pink—were perfect for the playful yet restful retreat. Second, I knew I wanted to incorporate acrylic into the design, and when I found the crib, I knew it would be perfect to let the wallpaper shine through.

What is that one thing that everyone mentions when they step into this space?Everyone comments on the calm and tranquil feeling that the room gives, which was the main goal!

If you had to choose one aspect of the design that is uniquely you, what would it be?Using custom elements wherever possible. I knew I wanted an antique dresser for a changing table, and once I found it, my husband helped to refinish the perfect piece—sanding, painting and lacquering in the perfect color (Behr: Pink Elephant). I chose new glass drawer pulls with brass hardware from Etsy.

How did your personal style influence your design choices?As an interior designer, designing a nursery is exciting on its own, but when it’s for my very own baby—A GIRL!—it was my ultimate dream project. I knew there would be pink, and my love of mixing modern and traditional pieces would give an eclectic vibe. This was my chance to bring my feminine design dreams to life!

Now that the room is complete, what was your favorite part of the process? And what do you love the most about the finished design?I love the interest that is created by the blend of different style elements—the ornate antique dresser (with its shiny new paint job) and the clean lines of the crib and curves of the tulip table. I love that many pieces in the room have a story and weren’t just new purchases thrown together. For example, the turquoise tulip table was one of my first adult furniture buys when I was 24 after starting my job with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Not knowing then, that years later it would become that perfect piece for my daughter’s nursery!

I’m not a “matchy matchy” designer, so naturally I did not want any sort of baby furniture set or even a table that was meant for the sole purpose of changing diapers. I prefer a piece of furniture to be an investment and a functioning piece forever. Lola’s Pink Elephant dresser will always have a place in our home (whether in her room or another area—I might borrow it!).

Beth, Project Nursery’s Editor, lives in Upstate New York with her husband and their two boys—an inquisitive nine-year-old and an imaginative six-year-old—and a baby girl. Beth is a work-from-home mom who loves writing, crafting and all things kid design.